Compare towns
Hartford vs Henniker vs Portsmouth vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most kids (18% under 18).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hartford | Henniker | Portsmouth | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
6,197Lowest |
22,545Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Hartford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$95,206±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$356,700±$49k 7% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,877Highest 185% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 70 in VT | #56 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Henniker School District | Portsmouth School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.